video; un: peridot

[runningjoke]

[The video turns on, and this individual here is… very green. Neon green, even. And with a stone embedded in her forehead, very similarly to another person who posted once before. However, unlike Pearl, Peridot's voice is less melodic, and more… nasally. She doesn't sound happy, either.]

Hello humans.

[Sigh.]

And whatever else is here.

It seems somehow, ALASTAIR has sent me something from my home world. If only they could spend their time on sending me back instead of bringing things here I don't need.

[And with that, Peridot looks off screen, reaches for something, and places a weird orb with legs out in front of the video feed she's set up. It takes a few steps to settle itself, and then remains still again.]

This is a flask robonoid. It's purpose is … useless here. It's really just useless.

The only reason I'm showing it to any of you at all is so that if you see it around, it isn't a threat. I should just destroy it so that it doesn't get in the way, but …

[She kind of wants it around. It reminds her of a simpler time, when she wasn't stuck on a foreign planet. Instead, she just flicks at the Robonoid with a "finger" of hers, and a pool of liquid inside of it splashes around before it finds equilibrium again.]

… Just let it walk around.

Comments

[of_her_own_accord]

[This actually causes both of them to stop bickering and look at her in amazement. A1 speaks.]

I... wow, you get it. A lot of people don't understand that about us. When they find out, anyway.

[runningjoke]

As I am learning about humans and their social structures, they are completely oblivious to how other types of beings exist. Our lifestyles and how our decisions are made are based on our cultures and experiences. They assume that if you don't share the same motivations as them, that you are "wrong" or "sad."

[of_her_own_accord]

[A2 this time.]

Hmm... this is true, although at least some people are empathetic about it. Entire wars have started over human inability or unwillingness to get to know each other better. It's sad, really.

[She frowns, looking down a bit.]

And in at least a few cases, this nearly caused their own extinction.

[A1 looks over at her, a mild look of knowing crossing her face, then back at Peridot.]

Of course, understanding is a two-way street.

[runningjoke]

I've heard. Humans are highly dangerous for multiple reasons. Not because they pose a threat to other races, but more or less to themselves.

I'm still learning about them. But so far, I'm left unimpressed.

[of_her_own_accord]

[A2:]

I wouldn't underestimate them. Sometimes they do things that can surprise you. And, well... humans have things that androids... don't.

[runningjoke]

Like?

[of_her_own_accord]

It probably doesn't make much sense to you, since I imagine your world is different, but, well...

Androids don't have souls.

[runningjoke]

...What's a "soul"?

[of_her_own_accord]

[A1:]

I suppose you could call it the essence of a living creature. All that constitutes a person is contained within the soul. In the worlds we've lived in, such a thing has been demonstrably proven to exist.

[A2:]

Mostly because it turns out a suitably powerful magical force can corrupt it.

[A1:]

It's why androids were so useful as part of the original solution to the problem that plagued our home world thousands of years ago: we had no souls to corrupt.

[A2:]

But it has its... tradeoffs.

[runningjoke]

Huh.

What are the tradeoffs?

[of_her_own_accord]

[A1 looks uncomfortable, so A2 steps in.]

Souls are capable of living past the vessel they're stored in. If the body dies, the soul can simply transcend to a different plane of existence. In that sense, everything that makes up a human -- their life experiences, their relationships -- all live on past them.

When an android is destroyed... that's it. Everything that constitutes who they are is gone in that moment their functions shut down. We have feelings, we live, we love, we develop memories. And all of that vanishes. It's... lonely.

[runningjoke]

...

I see.

[ Maybe it's best, then, to not talk about what a Gem's version of a soul is. Not that she cares about Accord's feelings. But it doesn't exactly seem like the opportune time. ]

...

[of_her_own_accord]

[Tsun harder, Peridot. A2 perks up as best she can.]

It is what it is. Like I said, it's a tradeoff. Accords at least have the benefit of being able to transfer their recordings, even if they don't transfer their exact experiences. And there's a lot of us, so it's not like there's a HUGE loss if one of us dies.

[She doesn't sound entirely convinced of this, but hey.]

[runningjoke]

... I have a question.

[of_her_own_accord]

[A2, again.:]

Hmm?

[runningjoke]

You're programmed to record timelines, yes?

[of_her_own_accord]

This is correct. Why do you ask?

[runningjoke]

... What happens to the Accords that wind up in timelines where it's going to somehow end? Or they know they'll be destroyed? Do they... just stay? Do they have to?

[of_her_own_accord]

[A pause. Then, A1:]

It... depends. If we know approximately how a timeline is going to end, then we may withdraw them, sealing the timeline if necessary. If we don't, they may stick around to record as much as possible before sending the necessary data back home and... quietly finishing up.

[A2 sighs.]

The world we observe ends in a lot of timelines in very bad ways.

[runningjoke]

So it's not... it's not cowardly to leave. They have a choice to stay or leave. And some choose to leave. Right?

[of_her_own_accord]

If there is nothing to be gained from it. What reason is there to throw away your life if doing so results in no demonstrable gain for the greater good?

[runningjoke]

...

What if an Accord took steps to prevent the destruction of a timeline? What if she knew how to stop a timeline from being destroyed, and did it?

[of_her_own_accord]

...

...

[A2 looks away. A1 adjusts her glasses.]

This has... already occurred once.

[runningjoke]

And what happened?

[ You know. Asking for a friend. ]

[of_her_own_accord]

[A2 smiles a little sadly. A1 looks away, uncomfortable.]

She... finally secured a successful timeline. This resulted in a multitude of new timelines which were impossible previously. We have since taken to recording these newer timelines after securing her final recordings.